Internships

To gain practical experience, test career possibilities, network, and/or to increase their fluency in a second language and culture, PORTfolio students engage in an off-campus learning experience during their junior or senior year. Students may choose to study abroad, participate in a student-faculty research project, participate in service learning, or intern in a particular career field with a local organization or business.

What is an Internship?

An internship is learning by doing. By integrating classroom theory (knowledge) into the world of work, students acquire first-hand experience (know-how) in a work environment related to their career interests.

An internship involves active participation in the functioning of a business, governmental organization, non-profit organization, etc., for which the student receives academic credit. It may be either a semester long (12 semester hours of credit) experience or 100 hours of internship experience for 3 semester hours credit. Credits gained through a PORTfolio internship count towards meeting graduation requirements.

A PORTfolio academic internship allows students to:

Expand their awareness of the world beyond the classroom

Explore career ideas in professional settings

Experience the connection between their liberal arts education and the world through its application at a work site

Gain valuable career-related experience

Improve their self-confidence, develop new skills and work habits essential for a responsible and productive professional

Network with future employers

Student Responsibilities

Prepare an internship contract with their PORTfolio advisor which defines their learning objectives for the experience

Perform internship responsibilities in a professional manner

Maintain a daily journal that documents their internship experience

Complete the academic work requirements of the internship

Submit a self-evaluation about the internship which integrates academic and career interests

Faculty Responsibilities

Assist students with developing the academic component of the internship by outlining academic work to be completed

Contact the intern during the internship to strengthen the link between academic and work components of the internship experience

Evaluate the internship experience and assign a grade

PORTfolio Partner's Responsibilities

Provide an internship job description to the PORTfolio Program

Designate an internship supervisor at the work site

Orient the intern to the organization and his or her work assignment

Challenge the intern with work assignments of a professional nature

Complete an intern evaluation form at the end of the internship

Virginia Wesleyan University

MAIN CAMPUS:
5817 Wesleyan Drive
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23455

BUSINESS SERVICES:
1584 Wesleyan Drive
Norfolk, Virginia 23502

757.455.3200

AboutVirginia Wesleyan University

Virginia Wesleyan University is Coastal Virginia's premier university of the liberal arts and sciences. Situated on a 300-acre park-like campus in Virginia Beach, the University annually enrolls approximately 1,500 students in undergraduate, graduate, and online programs. Undergraduate degrees include a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Social Work with 35 majors, 30 minors, and seven pre-professional programs. Graduate degrees include a Master of Business Administration and Master of Arts in Education (2018). Students thrive in average class sizes of 13 and through the University's experiential learning, high-impact leadership, and career-development programs. More than 90 percent of Wesleyan’s new graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within one year. The state-of-the-art Greer Environmental Sciences Center, Chesapeake Bay Academy, Tidewater Collegiate Academy, and other outstanding facilities and programs serve a vibrant campus community and regional partners in education. In accordance with its United Methodist heritage, the University aspires to be a supportive community that is committed to social responsibility, ethical conduct, higher learning and religious freedom.